Abandoned: The History of WWE's World Tag Team Championship, Pt. 2

Abandoned: The History of WWE's World Tag Team Championship, Pt. 2

For this edition of Abandoned, I present WWE’s World Tag Team Championship.

Some say the title is made up of three different belts. Arguments can be made for both sides whether it does or not, but I put them together anyway.

The first major tag-team titles for the WWE were the Northeast versions of the NWA United States Tag Team Championship.

They were established in 1956 when the WWE was Capitol Wrestling Corporation and a member of the National Wrestling Alliance.

When CWC withdrew from the NWA in 1963, the company became known as the World Wide Wrestling Federation, and the titles were renamed as such.

The titles were abandoned in 1967 when one of the champions gave up his half of the titles.

The titles were then replaced by the WWWF International Tag Team Championship in 1969. While the WWWF World Tag Team Championship was created in 1971, the international tag belts continued on for a bit.

When the company became WWF in the 1980s, the titles were renamed as such.

They became the WWE Tag Team Championship in 2001 when the company went under another change, and in 2002, were renamed the World Tag Team Championship when the belts became exclusive to the Raw brand.

In 2010, the titles were unified with SmackDown’s tag-team titles, and since WWE follows the history of the SmackDown titles, the World Tag Team Championship side of the belts was abandoned after 54 years of history.

Throughout those 54 years, the titles have seen over 200 champions.

In part 1, you got to see the first 51 champions. In part 2, the next 54 champions will be featured!

So let’s get started.

Tony Garea and Larry Zbyszko

1 of 55

Defeated: The Yukon Lumberjacks

Where: Allentown, Pa.

When: Nov. 21, 1978

Title Reign: 105 days

Tony Garea would retire in 1986 after being a jobber for the WWF.

Garea was then hired as a road agent for the company and he remains in that position to this day.

Larry Zbyszko debuted in 1973 in Pittsburgh and Vancouver. He’s wrestled for the WWWF, NWA, AWA and WCW throughout his career.

He was a challenger for the World Championship in the companies many times and would win it two times in the AWA.

After spending three years in TNA as a wrestler, manager and director of authority from 2003-2006, Zbyszko can now be seen in the independents.

Johnny and Jerry Valiant

2 of 55

Defeated: Tony Garea and Larry Zbyszko

Where: Allentown, Pa.

When: March 6, 1979

Title Reign: 230 days

When Vince K. McMahon bought the company from his father and renamed it the World Wrestling Federation, all the titles were renamed as such.

The Valiants are recognized as the first WWF world tag team champions.

When Jimmy entered into his first retirement, Johnny recruited Jerry to reform the Valiants.

While Johnny and Jimmy continue on their career making appearances, Jerry Valiant passed away on March 11, 2010.

Ivan Putski and Tito Santana

3 of 55

Defeated: Johnny and Jerry Valiant

Where: New York City

When: Oct. 22, 1979

Title Reign: 173 days

Ivan Putski debuted in 1968 in the NWA and also wrestled for the AWA.

In 1974, Putski debuted in the WWWF and feuded with the likes of Bruiser Brody, Stan Hansen and Ivan Koloff. His career started to slow down in the 1980s and he retired in 1987.

Putski was then inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 1995.

He was last seen working as a security guard for a high school in Texas.

Tito Santana debuted in 1977 in Florida but soon found himself in the WWF in 1979.

He stayed with the company until 1993, where he won Tag Team and Intercontinental Championships twice each and was the 1989 King of the Ring.

He briefly showed up in ECW winning the World Championship and wrestled for the AWA and WCW before retiring in 2000.

The Wild Samoans (Afa and Sika)

4 of 55

Defeated: Ivan Putski and Tito Santana

Where: Philadelphia, Pa.

When: April 12, 1980

Title Reign: 119 days

The Wild Samoans formed in the 1970s in Stampede Wrestling and the NWA.

They became a top heel tag-team when the gained Captain Lou Albano as their manager.

They would hold these titles three times and hold a total of 21 Tag Team Championships throughout their careers.

Bob Backlund and Pedro Morales

5 of 55

Defeated: The Wild Samoans

Where: New York City

When: Aug. 9, 1980

Title Reign: one day

Bob Backlund and Pedro Morales gave up the titles the very next day. Wrestlers weren’t allowed to hold two titles and Backlund was already holding the WWF World Heavyweight Championship.

Bob Backlund debuted in 1973 in the AWA. He wrestled throughout the territories before debuted with the WWF in 1977.

He would win the World Championship in 1978 and held the title for almost two years.

He would enter into semi-retirement into the early 1990s.

He would make multiple returns to the WWF, having stints from 1992-1997, 2000 and an appearance in 2007 at the 15th anniversary of Raw.

He also appeared for TNA feuding with the Motor City Machine Guns in 2007 as well.

You can still see Backlund occasionally on the independent circuit.

Pedro Morales debuted in 1959 in New York. He wrestled throughout the territories before debuting with the WWF in 1970.

He became the company’s first Triple Crown Champion after winning the Tag Team, Intercontinental and World Heavyweight Championships.

Morales retired in 1987 and was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 1995.

Morales tends to stay away from wrestling now and just lives out his retirement with his family.

The Wild Samoans

6 of 55

Defeated: Tony Garea and Rene Goulet

Where: Allentown, Pa.

When: Sept. 9, 1980

Title Reign: 60 days

The Wild Samoans defeated Tony Garea and Rene Goulet for the vacant titles. Why these two particular teams met to decide the champions is not known.

The Samoans would break up in the 1990s when both Afa and Sika would retire from professional wrestling.

They opened a wrestling school in the late 1970s that trained the likes of Paul Orndorff, the Junkyard Dog, Yokozuna and Batista.

They still run the school to this day.

Tony Garea and Rick Martel

7 of 55

Defeated: The Wild Samoans

Where: Philadelphia

When: Nov. 8, 1980

Title Reign: 129 days

Garea has made the occasional appearance on WWE television including the 2007 Night of Champions PPV when he and Rick Martel reunited to rescue Sergeant Slaughter and Jimmy Snuka from Deuce ‘n Domino.

Rick Martel debuted in 1972 in Canada. He wrestled throughout Canada, New Zealand, Puerto Rico and the NWA before heading to the WWF in 1980.

He won tag-team gold twice before heading to the AWA, where he held the World Championship for almost two years.

The Moondogs (Rex and King)

8 of 55

Defeated: Tony Garea and Rick Martel

Where: Allentown, Pa.

When: March 17, 1981

Title Reign: Rex and King: 44 days, Rex and Spot: 82 days

Rex and Spot were recognized as the champions on May 1, 1981 when King was unable to enter the United States from Canada.

The Moondogs joined the WWF in 1981 and quickly won the titles. They became known for heading to the ring gnawing on bones.

Elsewhere, Rex and King became notorious for their wild and bloody brawls.

The Moondogs team has featured many other members including Spot, Spike and Cujo.

Rex and King continued to wrestle as the Moondogs until King passed away on August 25, 2005.

Rex can still be seen on the independent circuit.

Tony Garea and Rick Martel

9 of 55

Defeated: The Moondogs

Where: Allentown, Pa.

When: July 21, 1981

Title Reign: 84 days

Garea was last seen as a lumberjack brawling with other legends on an episode of Monday Night Raw in 2010.

Martel returned to the WWF in 1986 and is most well-known for his Strike Force team with Tito Santana and his model gimmick.

He left in 1995 and debuted in WCW in 1997. He stayed there only for a year when he retired in 1998.

Mr. Fuji and Mr. Saito

10 of 55

Defeated: Tony Garea and Rick Martel

Where: Allentown, Pa.

When: Oct. 13, 1981

Title Reign: 258 days

Mr. Fuji returned to the WWF in 1981 and started teaming with Mr. Saito. They won the tag titles twice before Saito left the company.

Fuji then became a manager in 1985 and he managed the likes of George Steele, Don Muraco, Demolition and his final client, Yokozuna.

Fuji retired in 1996.

Mr. Saito debuted in 1965 in Japan and toured the territories of the NWA from 1968 to 1981.

He wrestled for the WWF for a year and was arrested in 1984 after he and Ken Patera threw a boulder through a McDonald’s window.

Chief Jay and Jules Strongbow

11 of 55

Defeated: Mr. Fuji and Mr. Saito

Where: New York City

When: June 28, 1982

Title Reign: 15 days

Chief Jay Strongbow debuted in 1947 and spent 38 years in the business. He won many titles throughout the NWA, WWF and Puerto Rico before retiring in 1985.

Jules Strongbow debuted in the WWF in 1982 as the brother of Chief Jay. He only lasted a year and left in 1983 after he and Jay lost the titles.

Mr. Fuji and Mr. Saito

12 of 55

Defeated: Chief Jay and Jules Strongbow

Where: Allentown, Pa.

When: July 13, 1982

Title Reign: 105 days

Upon retirement, Fuji opened a wrestling school in Tennessee but it closed in 2001.

Mr. Fuji was last seen being inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2007.

After spending two years in prison, Saito returned to the ring and wrestled mainly in Japan. He would become the second-to-last AWA world champion in 1990 and wrestled briefly for WCW before retiring in 1999.

He currently works for a promotion in Japan as a supervisor and adviser for young talent.

Chief Jay and Jules Strongbow

13 of 55

Defeated: Mr. Fuji and Mr. Saito

Where: Allentown, Pa.

When: Oct. 26, 1982

Title Reign: 133 days

Despite retiring, Chief Jay would return to the ring on occasion for legends shows.

He became a road agent for WWF and also managed Tatanka for a bit.

He was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 1994 and was last seen on an episode of Raw in 2008.

After leaving the WWF, Jules wrestled in the independents for 16 years before retiring in 1999.

The Wild Samoans

14 of 55

Defeated: Chief Jay and Jules Strongbow

Where: Allentown, Pa.

When: March 8, 1983

Title Reign: 252 days

The Wild Samoans would be immortalized twice.

They were inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2007 and the Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame this year.

Rocky Johnson and Tony Atlas

15 of 55

Defeated: The Wild Samoans

Where: Allentown, Pa.

When: Nov. 15, 1983

Title Reign: 154 days

Johnson and Atlas made history here when they became the first African-American team to win the World Tag Team Championship.

Rocky Johnson debuted in 1964 in the NWA and became a top contender for the NWA Championship in the 1970s.

He became more well-known, though, as a tag-team wrestler.

He joined the WWF in 1983 and while he did have a singles career, he was more known for his team with Atlas.

Johnson retired in 1991 and started to train his son Dwayne, who later became the Rock.

Rocky Johnson was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2008.

Tony Atlas debuted n 1974 in the Mid-Atlantic territories of the NWA. He wrestled all over the United States working for the WWF, WCCW and the AWA.

He would be inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2006 and returned to the WWE for a two-year stint as a manager in 2008.

Atlas can still be seen wrestling on the independents on occasion.

The North-South Connection (Adrian Adonis and Dick Murdoch)

16 of 55

Defeated: Rocky Johnson and Tony Atlas

Where: Hamburg, Pa.

When: April 17, 1984

Title Reign: 279 days

Adrian Adonis debuted in 1974 in the AWA. While there, he won the Tag Team Championship with Jesse Ventura as the East-West Connection tag-team.

He found his way to the WWF in 1982 and challenged Bob Backlund and Pedro Morales for the World Championship on several occasions.

After his team with Murdoch, he became “Adorable” Adrian Adonis.

He left the WWF after WrestleMania III and returned to the AWA in 1987.

Adrian Adonis would pass away on July 4, 1988 after a car crash.

Dick Murdoch was a mainstay of the NWA, winning over 20 titles there, including the NWA United States Tag Team Championship, which later became the WCW US tag titles.

He appeared briefly for WWF, winning only this title.

He last appeared for a mainstream wrestling promotion in 1995, when he was a surprise entrant in the Royal Rumble.

Dick Murdoch was wrestling in the independents when he passed away on June 15, 1996.

The U.S. Express (Mike Rotundo and Barry Windham)

17 of 55

Defeated: The North-South Connection

Where: Hartford, Conn.

When: Jan. 21, 1985

Title Reign: 69 days

The U.S. Express formed in 1984 and came out to the ring using Bruce Springsteen’s “Born in the USA” as their entrance theme.

Within three months of their debut, they won the Tag Team Championship. They would hold the titles twice before breaking up when Windham left to wrestle in Florida.

Their last match as a team was for the AWA in 1986.

Before the team broke up, Rick Derringer wrote “Real American” for the team. The song then went to Hulk Hogan.

The Iron Sheik and Nikolai Volkoff

18 of 55

Defeated: The U.S. Express

Where: New York City

When: March 31, 1985

Title Reign: 78 days

The Iron Sheik debuted in 1972 in the AWA and was originally a face. He soon became a heel and cemented his place in pro wrestling history.

He debuted with the WWF in 1983 and quickly won the World Championship. He was just a transitional champion, though, as he lost the title a few weeks later to Hulk Hogan.

Iron Sheik wrestled for the NWA and WCCW as well but most of his career was with the WWF.

He would be inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2005 and will still make the occasional appearance for them.

Iron Sheik is most known nowadays for his crazy, unpredictable behavior and his hatred for Hulk Hogan and the Ultimate Warrior.

Nikolai Volkoff debuted in 1967 in Canada and arrived in the United States in 1970 as one-half of the Mongols tag-team.

It wasn’t until 1984 when he became Volkoff and was a major heel alongside Iron Sheik.

After spending the majority of his career in the WWF, Volkoff was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2005.

He has had multiple appearances for WWE since and can currently be seen on the independent scene.

The U.S. Express

19 of 55

Defeated: The Iron Sheik and Nikolai Volkoff

Where: Poughkeepsie, N.Y.

When: June 17, 1985

Title Reign: 68 days

The U.S. Express would return to the WWF in 1987, but with Dan Spivey instead of Barry Windham. That version of the team would find zero success.

The original team was last seen when they reunited on an episode of Raw in 2008 to have a WrestleMania I rematch against the Iron Sheik and Nikolai Volkoff.

Mike Rotundo would retire in 2004 and now works for WWE as a road agent.

Barry Windham also retired in 2004 and will be inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame this year as a member of the legendary Four Horsemen.

The Dream Team (Greg Valentine and Brutus Beefcake)

20 of 55

Defeated: The U.S. Express

Where: Philadelphia

When: Aug. 24, 1985

Title Reign: 226 days

The Dream Team formed in 1985 when Johnny Valiant and Jimmy Hart brought Greg Valentine and Brutus Beefcake together.

After unsuccessfully capturing the tag-team titles on multiple occasions, Valiant shoved a lit cigar in Barry Windham’s eye and the Dream Team won the belts.

The Dream Team would defend the titles against the likes of the Killer Bees and the British Bulldogs, who remained constant challengers.

After losing the titles, Dino Bravo was added to the team and at WrestleMania III; Beefcake was kicked out in favor of Bravo.

Greg Valentine would be inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2004 and can still be seen on the independent circuit.

Brutus Beefcake entered into semi-retirement in 2010 and will wrestle on occasion in the independents.

The British Bulldogs (The Dynamite Kid and Davey Boy Smith)

21 of 55

Defeated: The Dream Team

Where: Chicago

When: April 7, 1986

Title Reign: 294 days

The British Bulldogs formed in 1983 and are considered one of the greatest tag teams in the history of the business.

The Bulldogs got their start as a team in Stampede Wrestling and New Japan Pro Wrestling before heading to the WWF in 1984.

They are best-known for their feud with the Hart Foundation, a feud that produced some of the best matches ever seen.

The Bulldogs left the company in 1988 and returned to Stampede Wrestling and toured with All Japan Pro Wrestling.

The team disbanded in 1990 when Davey Boy went back to the WWF under the name the British Bulldog and threatened a lawsuit against any promoter that referred to the Dynamite Kid as a British Bulldog.

Davey Boy Smith would pass away on May 18, 2002, while the Dynamite Kid is confined to a wheelchair due to his past drug abuse and style of wrestling.

The Hart Foundation (Bret Hart and Jim Neidhart)

22 of 55

Defeated: The British Bulldogs

Where: Tampa, Fla.

When: Jan. 26, 1987

Title Reign: 274 days

The Hart Foundation formed in 1985 and were managed by Jimmy Hart.

They were known for having great matches with no matter who their opponents were.

They stayed together six years, winning the Tag Team Championship twice before breaking up in 1991.

While both went in to have singles careers, Neidhart in no way matched the success of his partner.

The Hart Foundation would reform six years later as a full stable.

Strike Force (Tito Santana and Rick Martel)

23 of 55

Defeated: The Hart Foundation

Where: Syracuse, N.Y.

When: Oct. 27, 1987

Title Reign: 152 days

Santana would be inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2004 and was last seen in 2010 during the old-school edition of Raw.

After retiring, Martel worked as a trainer for the WCW Power Plant.

He was last seen at the 2007 Night of Champions PPV alongside his former partner Tony Garea.

Demolition (Ax and Smash)

24 of 55

Defeated: Strike Force

Where: Atlantic City, N.J.

When: March 27, 1988

Title Reign: 478 days

Demolition formed in 1987 with Bill Eadie as Ax and Randy Colley as Smash.

Colley was replaced a month later by Barry Darsow, though.

The team became known for ring attire and their aggressive style and dominating ways in the ring.

The mowed down such teams as the British Bulldogs, the Killer Bees and the Islanders before getting a shot at the Tag Team Championship.

The Brain Busters (Arn Anderson and Tully Blanchard)

25 of 55

Defeated: Demolition

Where: Worcester, Mass.

When: July 18, 1989

Title Reign: 76 days

The Brain Busters formed in 1986 but weren’t known by that name.

Arn Anderson and Tully Blanchard were original members of the Four Horsemen in the NWA. They held the Tag Team Championship twice and dominated the tag-team division before heading to the WWF in 1988.

It’s there where they became known as the Brain Busters and were members of the Heenan Family.

The team split up in 1989 after Blanchard was fired from the WWF and Anderson quit.

While Anderson went back to the NWA, Blanchard was not offered a contract due to his drug abuse.

Anderson would retire in 1997 and now works for the WWE as a road agent.

Tully Blanchard retired in 2005 and is now a prison minister.

Both men will be inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame this year as members of the Four Horsemen.

Demolition

26 of 55

Defeated: The Brainbusters

Where: Wheeling, W.Va.

When: Oct. 2, 1989

Title Reign: 72 days

Upon winning their first Tag Team Championship, Demolition continued their dominance by defeating every team that stood in front of them.

They would finally lose the titles to former members of the Four Horsemen but would regain them three months later.

They would hold the titles one more time before disbanding in 1991.

The Colossal Connection (Andre the Giant and Haku)

27 of 55

Defeated: Demolition

Where: Huntsville, Ala.

When: Dec. 13, 1989

Title Reign: 109 days

The Colossal Connection formed in 1989 and were brought together by Bobby Heenan.

They were put together due to the Heenan Family losing the Brain Busters as their tag team and to prolong the career of Andre, whose health was deteriorating.

The team only last a few months and they lost the titles at WrestleMania VI.

Haku and Heenan turned on Andre, turning the Giant into a face for the remainder of his career.

Andre continued to make appearances for WWF and was last seen in All Japan Pro Wrestling.

Andre the Giant would pass away on Jan. 27, 1993 and be the very first inductee into the WWE Hall of Fame later that year.

Haku can still be seen on occasion on the independent circuit.

Demolition

28 of 55

Defeated: The Colossal Connection

Where: Toronto

When: April 1, 1990

Title Reign: 148 days

Due to Ax having health problems, WWE added Crush to the team and they defended the title under the Freebird Rule, which states that any member of a stable could defend the titles.

Ax soon became a manager to Smash and Crush.

With the arrival of the Legion of Doom, Demolition’s popularity started to dwindle. Ax soon left the WWF and the team continued on with just Smash and Crush.

The team became jobbers before breaking up in 1991 after Crush took some time off and Smash became the Repo Man.

Ax and Smash can still be seen in the independents as Demolition as well as their other characters while Crush would pass away on Aug. 13, 2007.

The Hart Foundation

29 of 55

Defeated: Demolition (Smash and Crush)

Where: Philadelphia

When: Aug. 27, 1990

Title Reign: 209 days

At a TV taping on Oct. 30, 1990, in Fort Wayne, Ind., the Rockers (Shawn Michaels and Marty Janetty) defeated the Hart Foundation in a two-out-of-three-falls match.

WWF President Jack Tunney would award the titles back to the Hart Foundation a few days later, though, due the ropes falling off during the match.

In 1997, the Hart Foundation reformed as a stable. Bret Hart led the heel group that included Neidhart, his brother Owen Hart, brother-in-law British Bulldog and Brian Pillman.

The stable only lasted eight months as Bret left for WCW.

Bret Hart retired in 2000 and was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2006. He was also inducted into the Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2008 in the “Modern Era” category.

He was last seen in WWE last year but will make the occasional, yet rare, appearance at an independent show.

Jim Neidhart still wrestles and can be seen on the independent scene.

The Nasty Boys (Brian Knobs and Jerry Sags)

30 of 55

Defeated: The Hart Foundation

Where: Los Angeles

When: March 24, 1991

Title Reign: 155 days

The Nasty Boys formed in 1986 in the AWA but soon joined WCW and would win the Tag Team Championship three times.

They would also spend some time in WWF, where they won the tag titles once, though the majority of their career would be with WCW.

After Sags was released from WCW in 1996, Knobs became a singles wrestler. He would win the WCW Hardcore Championship three times.

When WCW went under, the Nasty Boys reformed and have stayed together ever since and have wrestled at various independent promotions.

When Hulk Hogan arrived in TNA in 2010, he brought in the team and they entered into a feud with Team 3D, formerly the Dudley Boyz.

They were released after only three months in the company, though.

You can still see them on the independent circuit.

The Legion of Doom (Hawk and Animal)

31 of 55

Defeated: The Nasty Boys

Where: New York City

When: Aug. 26, 1991

Title Reign: 165 days

The Legion of Doom, or sometimes the Road Warriors, formed in 1982 in the Mid-Atlantic territory Georgia Championship Wrestling.

Along with their manager Paul Ellering, their style and look quickly got them noticed by fans.

The Road Warriors dominated the NWA, Japan, AWA, WCW and WWF throughout their career as a team.

They have won tag-team gold everywhere they wrestled and are sometimes considered to be the best tag team ever to grace a wrestling ring.

Road Warrior Hawk would pass away on October 19, 2003 and the team, along with their manager, would get their rightful place into the WWE Hall of Fame when they were inducted last year.

Animal can still be seen on the independent circuit and in Japan.

Money Inc. (Ted DiBiase and Irwin R. Schyster)

32 of 55

Defeated: The Legion of Doom

Where: Denver

When: Feb. 7, 1992

Title Reign: 164 days

Money Inc. formed in 1992 when Jimmy Hart put their names on a contract for a Tag Team Championship match instead of the Natural Disasters.

Money Inc. won the titles that night at a house show before debuting as a team on television.

The team defended their titles against the likes of the Legion of Doom, the Nasty Boys and the Headshrinkers before losing them to the Natural Disasters.

The Natural Disasters (Earthquake and Typhoon)

33 of 55

Defeated: Money Inc.

Where: Worcester, Mass.

When: July 20, 1992

Title Reign: 85 days

The Natural Disasters formed in 1991 when Jimmy Hart tried to get Andre the Giant to team with Earthquake.

Tugboat soon turned heel and joined Earthquake and Hart in the Natural Disasters.

They received many shots at the titles but would never be able to win them until their face turn.

They broke up in 1993 when Earthquake eliminated Typhoon at the Royal Rumble.

Earthquake was last seen as Golga, a member of the Oddities, and as his Earthquake character in the gimmick battle royal at WrestleMania X-Seven.

He retired in 2004 when he developed cancer and would pass away on June 7, 2006.

Despite also being known as Tugboat, Typhoon will probably be best known as the Shockmaster.

He retired in 1996 but did appear as Tugboat in the gimmick battle royal.

He’s now a safety manager.

Money Incorporated

34 of 55

Defeated: The Natural Disasters

Where: Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada

When: Oct. 13, 1992

Title Reign: 244 days

After regaining the titles, Money Inc. entered into a feud with Hulk Hogan.

Teaming with Brutus Beefcake as the Mega-Maniacs, they won the feud, but not the titles, after a disqualification win at WrestleMania IX.

After the feud with Hogan was over, Money Inc. entered into a feud with the Steiner Brothers, losing the titles to them before winning them back one final time.

The Steiner Brothers (Rick and Scott Steiner)

35 of 55

Defeated: Money Inc.

Where: Columbus, Ohio

When: June 14, 1993

Title Reign: two days

The Steiner Brothers formed in 1989 when the real-life brothers started teaming in JCP/WCW.

With their amateur wrestling background, the Steiners became a dominant team and won NWA/WCW Tag Team Championship on many occasions.

They left WCW in 1992 and went to WWF for two years. They would win the WWF Tag Team Championship on two occasions before heading back to WCW.

Money Incorporated

36 of 55

Defeated: The Steiner Brothers

Where: Rockford, Ill.

When: June 16, 1993

Title Reign: three days

Money Inc.’s feud with the Steiners was short-lived, as they lost the titles back to them three days later.

After failing to win them back, Money Inc. began to feud with Razor Ramon which the Bad Guy won.

The team disbanded later that year after DiBiase took a break and I.R.S. became a singles wrestler.

They would reunite many times since then.

I.R.S. would join DiBiase’s stable, the Million Dollar Corporation, they were both members of the nWo and have appeared on screen for the WWE in various segments.

Ted DiBiase retired in 1994 and became a minster. He still makes appearances for WWE and at wrestling conventions.

I.R.S. retired in 2004 and will still appear as the character on WWE television on occasion.

The Steiner Brothers

37 of 55

Defeated: Money Inc.

Where: St. Louis, Mo.

When: June 19, 1993

Title Reign: 86 days

While back with WCW, they won the tag titles a few more times before splitting up in 1998 to have singles careers in the company.

When WCW folded, Scott made his way back to the WWE while Rick wrestled in the independents and for TNA.

The Steiner Brothers would reunite in 2007 to feud with Team 3D but once the feud was over, they split up once again.

Scott is still with TNA and wrestles for their promotion Ring Ka King in India, and Rick can still be seen on the independent circuit.

The Quebecers (Jacques and Pierre)

38 of 55

Defeated: The Steiner Brothers

Where: New York City

When: Sept. 13, 1993

Title Reign: 119 days

The Quebecers formed in 1993 and were dressed as Mounties, though they weren’t supposed to be.

They were quickly pushed to the stars and won the titles by disqualification two months after their debut.

The match had Province of Quebec rules which stated that the titles could change hands due to a DQ.

When their manager Johnny Polo tricked Scott Steiner into swinging a hockey stick, the referee DQ’d him and the Quebecers were awarded the titles.

Marty Jannetty and The 1-2-3 Kid

39 of 55

Defeated: The Quebecers

Where: Richmond, Va.

When: Jan. 10, 1994

Title Reign: seven days

Marty Jannetty debuted in 1984 in the NWA, which is where he and Shawn Michaels were paired up as the Midnight Rockers.

They also wrestled for the AWA before heading to the WWF in 1988 as the Rockers.

They were a very popular team but that never culminated in winning tag-team gold.

After the Rockers broke up, Jannetty would disappear and reappear in the WWF multiple times, winning the Tag Team and Intercontinental Championships.

The Rockers reunited in 2005 for a one-off appearance defeating La Resistance.

Jannetty was last seen in the WWE in 2009 and can now be seen in the Pennsylvania promotion Chikara as a trainer and wrestler.

The 1-2-3 Kid debuted in 1992 and wrestled for various independent promotions before getting noticed by the WWF.

He debuted with the WWF in 1993 and became an underdog. His first big feud was with Razor Ramon and the Bad Guy made him a star.

He would win this title twice before making the move to WCW.

The Quebecers

40 of 55

Defeated: Marty Jannetty and the 1-2-3 Kid

Where: New York City

When: Jan. 17, 1994

Title Reign: 71 days

After their feud with the Steiners was over, they went after the 1-2-3 Kid.

The Kid would wrestle with a different partner each match but finally found a winner when he chose Marty Jannetty.

The Quebecers dominated the tag-team division until Jacques’ retirement match in 1994.

Men on a Mission (Mo and Mabel)

41 of 55

Defeated: The Quebecers

Where: London

When: March 29, 1994

Title Reign: two days

Men on a Mission formed in 1993 as Harlem Knights in the PWF and USWA. They soon debuted as Men on a Mission in the WWF and became crowd favorites due to their fun-loving personas.

They won the titles to the delight of the crowd, but the villainous Quebecers would win the belts back a couple of days later.

They stayed together until 1995, when Mabel won the King of the Ring tournament.

King Mabel and Sir Mo continued teaming but entered into singles competition later that year.

They partnered up one more time after that but were both released in 1996.

Mabel is probably best known to modern fans as Viscera or Big Daddy V and can still be seen on the independent circuit.

After leaving the WWF, Mo returned to the USWA and wrestled there until his retirement in 2006.

The Quebecers

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Defeated: Men on a Mission

Where: Sheffield, England

When: March 31, 1994

Title Reign: 26 days

The Quebecers would resurface in WCW as the Amazing French Canadians in 1996.

They feuded with Harlem Heat and the Steiner Brothers before leaving a year later.

The Quebecers returned to WWF later that year but were mostly used as jobbers. They left in 1998.

Jacques is now semi-retired and now runs a wrestling school and promotion in Canada.

You can still see Pierre wrestling on the independent circuit of Canada.

They’ll appear together on occasion in Jacques’ promotion.

The Headshrinkers (Fatu and Samu)

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Defeated: The Quebecers

Where: Burlington, Vt.

When: April 26, 1994

Title Reign: 124 days

The Headshrinkers formed in 1988 and are members of the Anoa’i family, which includes the Wild Samoans, Yokozuna and the Rock.

They started as the Samoan Swat Team in Puerto Rico and won the Tag Team Championship once.

They also wrestled for the NWA and WCCW before heading to the WWF in 1992.

They stayed together until Samu left the WWF and was replaced by Sionne. Fatu is best known as Rikishi and a member of the Too Cool tag-team/stable.

You can still him performing as Fatu or Kishi on the independent circuit.

Samu is now a trainer for his father’s and uncle’s Wild Samoans training school but can still be seen in the independents as well.

Shawn Michaels and Diesel

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Defeated: The Headshrinkers

Where: Indianapolis

When: Aug. 28, 1994

Title Reign: 87 days

The titles were declared vacant in November 23, 1994 when Shawn Michaels and Diesel split as a team.

Shawn Michaels debuted in 1984 as part of the Rockers tag-team and became a star alongside Marty Jannetty.

After never really winning these belts with him, Michaels turned his back on Jannetty and became the Heartbreak Kid.

From there, Michaels became a huge star.

Diesel debuted in 1990 and was stuck with some really bad gimmicks. In WCW he was Steel, Oz and Vinnie Vegas.

Those are considered some of the worst gimmicks in wrestling, especially Oz.

It wasn’t until he went to the WWF in 1993 where he became Diesel and turned into a huge star.

The 1-2-3 Kid and Bob Holly

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Defeated: Bam Bam Bigelow and Tatanka

Where: Tampa, Fla.

When: Jan. 22, 1995

Title Reign: one day

The 1-2-3 Kid and Bob Holly defeated Bam Bam Bigelow and Tatanka in a tournament final to become the new champions.

In WCW, the 1-2-3 Kid became Syxx and joined the nWo. He won the Cruiserweight and Tag Team Championships before being released in 1998 after sustaining a neck injury.

Syxx soon found his way back to the WWF under his most well-known gimmick, X-Pac.

Bob Holly debuted in 1990 in Alabama. He found himself in the WWF in 1994 with the nickname “Sparky Plug.”

He became Bombastic Bob in 1998 and was a member of the New Midnight Express with Bart Gunn.

Later that year he went back to Bob Holly and became a member of the J.O.B. Squad.

After winning the Hardcore Championship in 1999, he became Hardcore Holly.

The Smoking Gunns (Billy and Bart Gunn)

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Defeated: The 1-2-3 Kid and Bob Holly

Where: Palmetto, Fla.

When: Jan. 23, 1995

Title Reign: 69 days

The Smoking Gunns formed in 1993 as the Long Riders in the IWF. They showed up in the WWF later that year under the Gunns name.

They faced the various teams in the tag-team division until they got over enough to chase the tag belts.

An injury prevented them from entering into the tournament that the 1-2-3 Kid and Bob Holly won but returned the very next day to take the titles off of them.

Owen Hart and Yokozuna

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Defeated: The Smoking Gunns

Where: Hartford, Conn.

When: April 2, 1995

Title Reign: 175 days

Owen Hart debuted in 1986 in Stampede Wrestling. He also wrestled in Japan and was signed to the WWF in 1988.

He became the Blue Blazer but he left in 1989.

For the next few years, Hart wrestled in Japan and very briefly in WCW before returning to the WWF in 1991.

Yokozuna debuted in 1984 in the AWA. Trained by his uncles the Wild Samoans, he became Kokina Maximus in AWA but he would never win a title while there.

After spending some time in the independents, Yokozuna went to the WWF in 1992.

Shawn Michaels and Diesel

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Defeated: Yokozuna and the British Bulldog

Where: Saginaw, Mich.

When: Sept. 24, 1995

Title Reign: one day

The British Bulldog replaced Owen Hart for the title defense when Hart was late for the match.

During the match, though, Hart appeared and ran down to the ring. Despite not officially being in the match, he was pinned and Michaels and Diesel won the titles.

As a singles wrestler, Michaels would win ever title there was to win in the WWF and became the very first Grand Slam Champion.

He has had a number of “Match of the Year” matches with the likes of Razor Ramon, Steve Austin, Bret Hart and the Undertaker.

Shawn Michaels is without a doubt one of the most decorated superstar to ever step foot inside a WWF/E ring!

While with WWF, Diesel would become a Triple Crown Champion after winning tag-team, intercontinental and world heavyweight gold.

He left Vince McMahon for WCW in 1996 and was instrumental in the company’s success with the nWo, making it look like the WWF was invading WCW.

He would win the tag titles nine times and the world title five times before WCW was shut down.

He returned briefly to the WWF but spent most of the time on the injured list.

He would also pop up in TNA for six years, winning three titles.

Diesel was last seen in the WWE feuding with Triple H last year.

Owen Hart and Yokozuna

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Defeated: Forfeit

Where: Grand Rapids, Mich.

When: Sept. 25, 1995

Title Reign: about an hour

Due to the controversy that happened the previous night, Shawn Michaels and Diesel were forced to forfeit the titles back to Owen Hart and Yokozuna.

Hart became a member of the New Foundation with Jim Neidhart after Bret Hart left the team to become a singles star.

Owen really hit it big when he started to feud with his brother, Bret.

Owen would capture this title four times, the European title once and the Intercontinental Championship twice throughout his WWF career.

Yokozuna’s career took off once joining the WWF.

He won the 1993 Royal Rumble, and the WWF Championship at WrestleMania IX.

While he would lose the title to Hulk Hogan within a few minutes, Yokozuna regained the belt two months later.

He held the title for almost a year before losing it to Bret Hart.

After a successful team with Owen Hart, and later a face turn, Yokozuna was released from WWF due to not being able to pass a physical because of his weight.

While wrestling in Europe, Yokozuna would pass away on Oct. 23, 2000.

The Smoking Gunns

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Defeated: Owen Hart and Yokozuna

Where: Grand Rapids, Mich.

When: Sept. 25, 1995

Title Reign: 143 days

The titles were declared vacant on February 15, 1996 when Billy Gunn went down with a neck injury.

They would win the titles a total of three times while as a team. Towards the end of their run they gained Sunny as their manager.

It was Sunny that led to their breakup, though.

The Bodydonnas (Skip and Zip)

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Defeated: The Godwinns (Phineas and Henry Godwinn)

Where: Anaheim, Calif.

When: March 31, 1996

Title Reign: 49 days

The Bodydonnas defeated the Godwinns in a tournament final to become the new champions.

The Bodydonnas formed in 1995 as just Skip, best known as Chris Candido, and Sunny.

Rad Radford briefly joined the team but was kicked out rather quickly after a loss to the Smoking Gunns.

Skip and Sunny soon recruited Zip and they won the tag titles.

After losing the belts, Sunny left to follow the gold and the Bodydonnas disbanded after Skip went down with an injury.

Chris Candido would pass away on April 28, 2005.

Zip is better known as Tom Prichard and is currently a trainer for WWE’s developmental territory FCW.

The Godwinns

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Defeated: The Bodydonnas

Where: New York City

When: May 19, 1996

Title Reign: seven days

The Godwinns formed in 1991 as Tex Slazinger and Master Blaster in the USWA.

They wrestled as Tex and Shanghai in WCW before becoming the Godwinns in WWF.

They were pig farmers from the south and got over with the crowd with their antics.

While they had Sunny as their manager upon winning the titles, they also had WWE Legend Hillbilly Jim in the corner for a while.

After Henry suffered an injury, the Godwinns turned into heels and were on a mission to hurt people.

The Smoking Gunns

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Defeated: The Godwinns

Where: Florence, S.C.

When: May 26, 1996

Title Reign: 119 days

Sunny left the team after they lost the titles to Owen Hart and British Bulldog because she only wanted to manage champions.

Billy became frustrated with losing the titles and his on-screen girlfriend so he turned on Bart, thus disbanding the team.

Billy Gunn can still be seen on the independent circuit, while Bart Gunn is now an electrician.

He will wrestle on occasion, though.

Owen Hart and the British Bulldog

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Defeated: The Smoking Gunns

Where: Philadelphia

When: Sept. 22, 1996

Title Reign: 245 days

While teaming with the British Bulldog, the team joined the Hart Foundation stable in 1997.

The stable didn’t last long, though, as Bret Hart left for WCW later that year.

After the group broke up, Neidhart and Bulldog left but Owen stayed. He became known as the Black Hart but was a face.

In 1998, though, he returned to heel status when he joined the Nation of Domination.

The British Bulldog debuted in 1978 as Davey Boy Smith and was a member of the legendary British Bulldogs tag-team with the Dynamite Kid.

The Bulldogs wrestled all over the world, but Smith became a bigger star as a singles wrestler.

He won seven titles in the WWF, including the Intercontinental Championship by defeating Bret Hart in what was one of the best matches in WWF history.

The British Bulldog would pass away on May 18, 2002.

Part 3 Coming Soon

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Thanks for reading!

Part 3 of 4 will be up as soon as I’m able to get it done.

It may be delayed, though, since the site will be filled with everything Elimination Chamber throughout the week.